Rancho Santa Margarita is a city located in Orange County, California.   Rancho Santa Margarita is one of Orange County’s newest cities and is just one of Orange County’s master planned communities.  Rancho Santa Margarita is set upon rolling hills and picturesque mountain views, trails, streams, lakes and gorgeous parks.  This beautiful resort like planned community has wonderful neighbors too.  Mission Viejo, is to the west, Coto de Caza and Las Flores, are to the south, Trabuco Canyon, is to the north and the Cleveland National Forest is to their east.

Saddleback Valley Unified School District and the Capistrano Unified School District serve Ranch Santa Margarita and are both high ranking and excellent school districts.  Rancho Santa Margarita’s private Elementary and Middle Schools include Mission Hills Christian, Serra Catholic and St. John’s Episcopal School.  Rancho Santa Margarita’s private High School is Santa Margarita Catholic High that is associated with the Catholic Diocese of Orange.

Home Inspection in Rancho Santa Margarita

The Rancho Santa Margarita Landscape and Recreation Corporation, or SAMLARC, is known as the master association in Rancho Santa Margarita because its membership has other smaller sub associations in it and it includes the original design of the master planned community of Ranch Santa Margarita.  SAMLARC has about 13,000 units and oversees the maintenance of almost all the medians, streetscapes, trails and parks.  They have 13 parks, 4 pools, a lagoon, a lake and several trails in the community that they run and meticulously care for.  Central Park is one of SAMLARC’s wildly popular parks that’s located next to City Hall, it has a huge amphitheater where many of the communities events a held annually. Central Park also has a soccer arena rink that used to be a roller hockey rink, which SAMLARC maintains along with a very popular dog and skate park that are located in SAMLARC’s Canada Vista Park.  Many of the residence of Ranch Santa Margarita enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle primarily due to all the fabulous outdoor activities the city has to offer.  Some of these fantastic activities include running, biking or hiking through the beautiful wide variety of trails in the area as well as Tijeras Creek Golf Course and Lake Rancho Santa Margarita all with amazing views.

Signature Home Inspection specializes in Orange County Home Inspections and is most familiar with the streets, neighborhoods, and homes for sale in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Mission Viejo, in South Orange County, is a comparatively new city which began a master plan to build in 1965. It’s located just 10 miles from the ocean, east of the 5 freeway, and bordered by Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, San Juan Capistrano and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Mission Viejo began in the 18th century as a 52,000 acre “Rancho Mission Viejo”, a land claimed for Spain at the time.  It was governed for a time by Mexico, and then finally by California.  For most of this time it was a cattle ranch.

In 1963, 10,000 acres were sold and developed into what we now see as Mission Viejo.

Today, Mission Viejo is a bustling city with 93,000 residents (2011 Estimate).

Mission Viejo homes for sale are primarily comprised of suburban homes in a Spanish style architecture.  They do have 2 large hospitals, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and the Mission Viejo Hospital, the largest in South Orange County.  The Shops at Mission Viejo is an upscale shopping center offering over 150 retailers and restaurants large and small and tailored to every need.

Home Inspection in Mission Viejo

For recreation, Mission Viejo offers some wonderful hiking trails such as the Oso Creek Trail.  This trail offers a glimpse into the original eco-system of the area within the city itself. Lake Mission Viejo is a picturesque manmade lake with many waterfront homes and a variety of aquatic recreation available to its residents.

Mission Viejo had two school districts, the Capistrano Unified School District and the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Both have several Distinguished Schools and Blue Ribbon Schools. It also has a large community college called Saddleback College.

Mission Viejo has a reputation for very low crime rates. The city was named as the “safest city” in the United States in 2007 according to crime statistics compiled by the FBI.

Signature Home Inspection specializes in Orange County Home Inspections and is most familiar with the streets, neighborhoods, and homes for sale in Mission Viejo, California.

Costa Mesa in Orange County, California is located just east of Newport Beach and offers some of the finest retail, entertainment, and culture in the region. With a population of 109,000 Costa Mesa is one of the largest cities in Orange County. Costa Mesa homes for sale in the Orange County Real Estate market have steadily seen an increase in buyers because of the great lifestyle that the city provides.

Entertainment and Retail

Costa Mesa is home to one of the largest retail shopping centers in the US with it’s South Coast Plaza Shopping Mall. As for entertainment the beaches are only minutes away from anywhere in Costa Mesa and the Orange County Fairgrounds and Pacific Amphitheater hold many large events open to the public, the Fairgrounds being largely known for it’s annual Orange County Fair and the Amphitheater for it’s music events.

Dana Point California

Schools

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is where most of Costa Mesa’s schools are situated. In the Newport-Mesa Unified School District there are 2 High Schools and 2 Junior High Schools in Costa Mesa. For college level education in Costa Mesa options include Orange Coast College, Vanguard University, National University, and Whittier Law School.

Signature Home Inspection specializes in Orange County Home Inspections and is most familiar with the streets, neighborhoods, and homes for sale in Costa Mesa, California.

One of southern Orange County’s smaller cities, Dana Point, California, is home to a population of just over 35,000, as of 2000 census figures. It is notable throughout the region as the home of one of the few harbors in operation along the Orange County coast. It is bordered by Laguna Beach to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the south, Laguna Niguel to the north, San Juan Capistrano to the northeast and San Clemente to the east. The city’s median household income is just over $80,000 and the city motto is “Harboring the Good Life.”

The city was incorporated in January 1989, and is named after Richard Henry Dana Jr., an author who once described the area as “the most romantic spot on the California Coast.” It lies about halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles and encompasses an area of about 6.5 square miles, with about seven miles of bluffs and hills along the Pacific Coast.

Dana Point California

Students attend schools within the Capistrano Unified School District, which includes its own high school, Dana Hills High School. There is no shortage of things to see and do here. Festivals like the Festival of Whales in March, the Turkey Trot in November, a 4th of July fireworks show, the Tall Ships Festival in September and the Doheny Blues Festival in summer are celebrated and bring out a number of visitors and revelers.

There are nearly 2,000 hotel rooms for visitors to choose from, and more than 50 boutiques and restaurants. Two yacht clubs, the OC Sailing and Events Center, and Monarch Beach Golf Links and St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort provide other recreational opportunities. Catalina Island can be reached by a short boat ride. The Ocean Institute is a nonprofit educational center that operates the ships the Pilgrim and the Spirit of Dana Point and offers a number of educational tours and information.

Signature Home Inspection specializes in Orange County Home Inspections and is most familiar with the streets, neighborhoods, and homes for sale in Dana Point, California.

A mid-sized city in Orange County, San Clemente, California, is located near the southern tip of the county, about halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles. As of 2005 estimates, the population of the city was nearly 66,000. It lies six miles south of San Juan Capistrano and is home to the north entrance of the Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton. The city is bordered by Cleveland National Forest to the east and San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point to the north.

Before it was settled, the area was inhabited by tribes of Juaneño Native Americans. When the Mission San Juan Capistrano was established in the late 18th century, Spanish and Native American settlers came to the area and set up new villages. The city began its recent-day evolution in 1925, when a former mayor of the city of Seattle purchased 2,000 acres and designed a community within it.

Home Inspection in San Clemente, California

Children raised in the city are served by the Capistrano Unified School District, which here consists of six elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. There is also a virtual public K-12 school, Capistrano Connections Academy, which offers a more flexible schedule to students. The San Clemente Historical Society can provide a historical perspective of the city and the area, and introduce residents to the traditions and culture of San Clemente. Most of the city’s restaurants are strung along or nearby to Del Mar or El Camino Real.

Parks here include San Clemente State Park, on the bluffs looking out over San Clemente State Beach, San Mateo State Park, located just a mile inland, and San Onfore State Park, about three miles south of the city. There are four golf courses in the city: City Course, Shorecliffs, Talega and Pacific Country Club. The Ole Hanson Beach Club Pool is a summer favorite. The Philharmonic Society of Orange County Capistrano Committee provides musical performances for residents, and the Cabrillo Playhouse is the setting for plays and productions. The Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is also the site for events and programming, and the San Clemente Art Association sponsors a number of festivities and art-related activities.

Signature Home Inspection specializes in Orange County Home Inspections and is most familiar with the streets, neighborhoods, and homes for sale in San Clemente, California.

A large city in northern Orange County, Fullerton, California, was founded in 1887 and named for George H. Fullerton, the man who secured land in the area for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It is home to a population of more than 126,000, as of 2000 census figures, and was originally an agricultural center with orange groves and other citrus crops raised. The city lies about 25 miles east of Los Angeles and just north of Anaheim, home of Disneyland.

The town was also the site of drilling for oil, which fueled it first economic boom in the 1920s. As the city approached the middle 20th century, its economy began to change, moving to a more industrial economy, with petroleum extraction, food processing, transportation and manufacturing expanding in the region, and the first Hawaiian Punch recipe was developed here in the ’30s.

The city runs and maintains over 50 parks, including Hillcrest Park, the Craig Regional Park and Ralph B. Clark Regional Park. Attractions in the city include two golf courses and a tennis center, an equestrian center, the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, which is home to some art galleries and a theater group and the Fullerton Museum Center, situated within an old Carnegie library. The Fullerton Civic Light Opera is one of the region’s largest companies, and performs in the Plummer Auditorium. Other theater troupes include Maverick Theater, Stages Theater and the Hunger Artists Theatre Company.

Home Inspection in Fullerton California

Metrolink and Amtrak trains make stops in the city’s station, providing connections to Los Angeles in as little as 30 minutes. The Orange County Transportation Authority operates several bus routes within the city and throughout the rest of the county. St. Jude Hospital provides medical services to residents. Public schools in the city are operated under the Fullerton Joint Union High School District and include five public high schools in the city limits, three middle schools and 17 elementary schools. Colleges in the city include California State University, Fullerton; Fullerton College; Western State University College of Law; Hope International University; and the Southern California College of Optometry.

Signature Home Inspection specializes in Orange County Home Inspections and is most familiar with the streets, neighborhoods, and homes for sale in Fullerton, California.

City Spotlight: Irvine California 
Irvine has all the surf, sand, and sun Southern California is known for, with 44 miles of bike trails, 20,000 acres of parks and preserves, and a beach 10 miles away. Thanks to smart planning, this big city can feel surprisingly small. The 40-year-old community is divided into 40 “villages,” and a minimum of five acres of park space is added for every 1,000 newcomers. Home prices are high, but new development is creating more affordable options – along with new schools, bike paths, and green spaces.
There are 33 public schools in Irvine and a total of 8,313 public schools in California. There are 18 private schools in Irvine and a total of 3,445 private schools in California. There are 8 post-secondary schools in Irvine and a total of 1,086 post-secondary schools in California.
The income per capita in Irvine is 38% greater than the California average and 62.4% greater than the National average. The median household income in Irvine is 41.1% greater than the California average and 73.8% greater than the National average. The median household income in Irvine for owner occupied housing is 87.6% greater than the median household income for renter occupied housing in Irvine.
The median home value in Irvine is 50.9% greater than the California average and 237.8% greater than the National average. The median price asked for homes in Irvine is 40.1% greater than the California average and 214.1% greater than the National average. The median rental rates in Irvine is 48.4% greater than the California average and 123.2% greater than the National average.
The highest average temperature in Irvine is August at 71.7 degrees. The coldest average temperature in Irvine is December at 55.7 degrees. The most monthly precipitation in Irvine occurs in February with 2.6 inches. The Irvine weather information is based on the average of the previous 3-7 years of data.
There are a total of 3 airports within 30 miles of Irvine and a total of 12 Amtrak train stations within 30 miles of the city center. The average travel time to work in Irvine is 10.3% less than the California average and equal to the National average. The number of people who take public transportation in Irvine is 72.2% less than the California average and 62.8% less than the National average. The number of people who carpool to work in Irvine is 47.6% less than the California average and 35.9% less than the National average. The number of people who work from home in Irvine is 21.2% greater than the California average and 78.8% greater than the National average.
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San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California which became incorporated in 1928. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish Colonial style architecture. San Clemente’s city slogan is “Spanish Village by the Sea”.

There are 12 public schools in San Clemente and a total of 8,313 public schools in California. There are 3 private schools in San Clemente and a total of 3,445 private schools in California. The student to teacher ratio in San Clemente for public schools is 23:1, which is 16.4% greater than the California student to teacher ratio and 43.2% greater than the National student to teacher ratio.

The median home value in San Clemente is 87.2% greater than the California average and 319.2% greater than the National average. The median price asked for homes in San Clemente is 167% greater than the California average and 498.7% greater than the National average. The median rental rates in San Clemente is 28.8% greater than the California average and 93.7% greater than the National average.

The income per capita in San Clemente is 51% greater than the California average and 77.7% greater than the National average. The median household income in San Clemente is 31% greater than the California average and 61.4% greater than the National average. The median household income in San Clemente for owner occupied housing is 91.6% greater than the median household income for renter occupied housing in San Clemente.

The highest average temperature in San Clemente is August at 69.5 degrees. The coldest average temperature in San Clemente is December at 51.6 degrees. The most monthly precipitation in San Clemente occurs in February with 3 inches. The San Clemente weather information is based on the average of the previous 3-7 years of data.

There are a total of 2 airports within 30 miles of San Clemente and a total of 7 Amtrak train stations within 30 miles of the city center.

The average travel time to work in San Clemente is 3.4% greater than the California average and 15.4% greater than the National average. The number of people who take public transportation in San Clemente is 39.1% less than the California average and 18.5% less than the National average. The number of people who carpool to work in San Clementeis 28.4% less than the California average and 12.3% less than the National average. The number of people who work from home in San Clemente is 16.6% greater than the California average and 72.1% greater than the National average.